Delhi Police action is an attempt to muzzle people's voice: BJP

New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) : The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday condemned the Delhi Police action against a news channel that had aired an interview of the gang-rape victim's friend, saying it is an attempt to muzzle the voice of the people and an attack on freedom of the press.

“Delhi Police cannot muzzle voice of the citizen by lodging a case against the channel. People have a right to know the truth,” Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.

On Friday night, Delhi Police had said it was filing a case against Zee News, shortly after the television channel aired the interview with the male friend. The case will be filed under Section 228 (A) of Indian Penal Code, which pertains to disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences, including rape.

At a party programme, BJP general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad said: “Such behaviour from the police is unacceptable. This is an attack on the freedom of the press.”

Prasad criticised the Delhi Police for the undue delay in taking the victim and her friend to hospital on the fateful night.

“The two were lying semi-clad on the road after the incident and police personnel from three PCR vans were arguing for 25 minutes about whose jurisdiction the case falls under and who should take them to hospital,” Prasad said.

Ram Jethmalani, an eminent lawyer and a suspended BJP member of Parliament, criticized Delhi Police chief Neeraj Kumar for not conducting an inquiry and fixing responsibility for the lapse.

“We should have known that this has happened. What is the Police Commissioner doing there? Is he assaulting protesters doing all kind of funny things and what has to be done he doesn't do? Which police inspector is responsible? Which sub-inspector is responsible? The head of the police force should have by now have taken action,” he said.

“You must believe the injured person more, the police is totally untrustworthy,” he said.